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Parisse back to lead Italy

Wednesday 25th June 2008

Jetting in: Parisse starts clash after Stade exit

Italy coach Nick Mallett has recalled three of his Stade Français stars for their clash with Argentina in Cordoba on Saturday.

Sergio Parisse returns and will captain the side at number eight with brothers Mirco and Mauro Bergamasco also starting at centre and flank respectively after their Top 14 semi-final defeat.

Elsewhere, veteran Leicester prop Alex Moreno is on the bench while Fabio Ongaro is handed the number two jersey for the game.

Mallett has also retained 20-year-old fly-half Luke McLean alongside Simone Picone as the Azzurri set about improving on their 26-0 defeat to South Africa at Newlands last week.

Italy: 15 Andrea Marcato, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Luke McLean, 9 Simon Picone, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4 Santiago Dellape, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Ignacio Rouyet.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Alex Moreno, 18 Tommaso Reato, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Enrico Patrizio, 22 Riccardo Pavan/Jaco Erasmus.

Date: Saturday, June 28
Venue: Estadio Olimpico, Cordoba
Kick-off: 15:00 (11:00 BST)
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Paul Marks (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (IRB)